T
he Old Testament prophets
understood the need for God’s
reviving presence. Repeatedly, they
call out to God’s people to return to him
with the promise that God will return to
them, “Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the
LORD of hosts: “Return to Me,” says the LORD
of hosts, “and I will return to you,” says the
LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 1:3).
The only hope for Israel was the presence
of the Lord. And the same applies for all
nations. Zechariah wrote during the time
when God was restoring the Jewish people
to their homeland. It was to be a returning
both to the land and to the Lord. The
physical restoration was only one part.
God also wanted to restore his presence
and blessing to the nation.
Isaiah the prophet lived earlier in the 8th
Century BC, and not during the time of
restoration. Nevertheless, God gave him
a clear prophetic vision of those times. his
cry must be one of the most outstanding
examples of prophetic longing for revival.
We need this same intensity in our
prophetic praying today.
First of all, look at that prophetic “Oh” in
Isaiah 64 verse 1. The depth of this longing
coming from the heart of Isaiah is impossible
to put into words. It came from deep within.
In the hebrew language it is expressed by a
conditional particle (luw’) which conveys a
very strong wish. More than anything else,
Isaiah longed for God to come. he didn’t
want God to send restoration, because he
knew that the only answer was for God to
act personally – for God to come and show
his mighty power himself. That is revival.
INTERCESSION
NEVER FAILS
Revival comes from God. The sovereign
Lord determines the times and seasons of
the holy visitations and manifestations of
his glory. But he also comes through the
intercessions of his people. As we take up
our prophetic mandate and intercede for
our nations, as we call upon his name with
passionate intensity we will see the glory of
the Holy One.
Don’t you want to witness the Lord
move in sovereign power? Isn’t there
an intense burning desire within you
to see God overthrow the enemies of
righteousness, holiness and truth and come
to reign in his glory and splendour? If there
is, then know that this very longing has been
birthed in your heart by the Holy Spirit.
Such spiritual yearning comes not from you,
but from him.
Isaiah lamented the prayerlessness of his
day and acknowledged that it was due to
a hardness of heart and the withdrawal of
God from the nation (Isaiah 64:7). ➜
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